As I catch up on reviews,I’m actually glad I hadn’t gotten to these two documentaries yet. I woke up this morning to find out that President Trump, in his infinite wisdom, has decided to defund NPR and PBS.Apparently, they are getting too political for his taste. Really? PBS is getting political? When? During Antiques Roadshow? Nova? All Creatures Great And Small? Does he just not like things he doesn’t understand?
The two films I name checked above I watched both through the PBS app, which does not require a subscription, and supports audio description. Talk about serving the public good. And, yes, there are plenty of programming options, so you can choose what you want. You may not be interested in an entire documentary about Liza Minnelli. That’s totally fine. I thought the film was about as solid as documentaries can be when their subject is still alive and actively participating. Liza seemed willing to directly address many of her well publicized problems with addiction, so the film doesn’t feel like it was created for the sole purpose of making someone seem ready for canonization.
the other is technically a documentary short, because it fell just short of an hour, but is narrated by Peter Dinklage, and goes through the fight that all disabled individuals went through to get basic rights. It runs from the historic Nixon era movement to fight for the enforcement of Section 504 of the rehabilitation Act, which required buildings recieving federal funding to be accessible. So, you know, you could go to school, a library, or to court. Basic things. it follows all the way through a major sit in, which sparked real change, eventually leading to the Americans With Disabilities act.
Stories like that aren’t sexy, but they are important. And, as President Trump’s administration, and Republican Governors, are looking for ways to walk back disability rights, it kinda makes you wonder why stories like this have sides to begin with. Disability isn’t an affliction of one political party, and the need for accessibility reaches a broad spectrum, from the deepest red MAGA disciple, to the furthest left tree hugger. I think they think we still hug trees. But, the point is, disability can quite literally just come for you, unannounced, unexpected, and the idea that we should at all walk back any progress is vehemently dangerous. it is the literal manifestation of playing with fire, because those lobbying for the removal of services or access may one day need that same thing.
So, while we work to silence PBS and NPR for finding a way to create content for the widest spectrum, and make a broad range of programming to serve all of America in some form, with an app that supports audio description (narrated by humans), the question has to be is he truly threatened by the supposed radicalization of these new sources, or is he more likely waging his continued war on Education, in an effort to dumb down the voting block he needs to appeal to. After all, Trump’s appeal is marginal the higher up you go in education. But, for those who have no education, he resonates. If people are learning too much, through early childhood development programs on PBS Kids, all the way through adult programming that is largely non-fiction, they might actually learn what a tariff is, and why it doesn’t make a bit of sense in a campaign to lower prices.
What will become of PBS and NPR now that their funding is fully dependent on private donors, who have special interests of their own. Oil companies may want to keep PBS alive, if they don’t address climate change or pollution. Pharmaceutical companies could help fund NPR, if the reporters stop looking into the long term effects of certain medications. What once was for everyone is now for sale, all under the guise of partisan reporting, but likely out of spite and a desire to keep the audience tuned out.
Change Not Charity: Fresh: Final Grade: A Audio Description: B+
Liza: Fresh: Final Grade: B+, Audio Description: B+